Though the transfer season doesn't officially start until September 1st, most riders have their contracts for the following year sussed by the end of the Tour de France, as do most teams with their roster. This year there was another team on the hunt in France - GreenEDGE, the ambitious Australian cycling team looking to get off the ground for next year.
The project's management team were scouting all the Aussie talent on the WorldTour circuit at this year's Tour, with the intention that Australians make up 80% of the team's cyclists. Much to the delight of eager fans, word is already beginning to leak of the potential team roster prior to the official announcements in September.
The biggest win for the Aussie team is the signing of the Luxembourg team Leopard Trek's 2011 Tour road captain, Stuey O'Grady. Acknowledged as one of the smartest and most experienced heads in the peloton, the Tour de France and WorldTour veteran has been named as the head of the Australian National Team for the London 2012 Olympics and will likely be team leader or road captain at GreenEDGE.
The other big name tipped to be lining up in green in Australia's own triple-green jersey. Though having denied it for the past few days, Robbie McEwen of American team Radioshack is said to be switching to the Australian team as well. McEwen is more likely to join in a management role, having announced 2011 to be his final professional season.
A disappointing hit and miss for the team has been young Tasmanian Richie Porte. The 26-year-old, who made his Tour de France debut this year, has shown increasing skill in the individual time trial, coming fourth to World Time Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara in last year's Road World Championships, and bettering that in this year's Tour de France individiual time trial stage by coming 5th ahead of Cancellara's 8th. Alas for GreenEDGE, Porte has renewed his contract with Danish team Saxobank-Sungard.
Word is also spreading of the untested young blood that GreenEDGE is seeking. Of the number of Australians signed to WorldTour teams, not all are racing at the highest level yet, and of these GreenEDGE has two of my top three young Aussie picks in their sights. Jack Bobridge is a former under-23 world champion and Cameron Meyer is Australian national time trial champion, while his younger brother Travis, despite not being in GreenEDGE's radar, is the former national road race champion. All three ride for Team Garmin-Cervelo, and none have yet made their debut at a grand tour. There has also been mention of Garmin's Australian directeur sportif, Matt White, who could be persuaded to follow his young countrymen across to their new national team.
The closer we get to the beginning of the transfer season and a new season of cycling, the more exciting and real it becomes that Australia is finally beginning to ruffle its feathers on the world stage of this beautiful sport. A Tour de France winner and a potential national team all in one year - who would have thought?
The closer we get to the beginning of the transfer season and a new season of cycling, the more exciting and real it becomes that Australia is finally beginning to ruffle its feathers on the world stage of this beautiful sport. A Tour de France winner and a potential national team all in one year - who would have thought?
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